content warnings: feminine pet names and references to female genitalia; they’re all possessive, just in different ways; breeding kink, corruption kink, mindbreaking/dumbification, overstimulation, semi-public sex, implied dacryphilia (childe); voyeurism and general perviness, somnophilia, implied corruption kink (xiao); overstimulation, restraints, marking, spanking, yandere behavior (diluc); dom/sub relationship, brat taming, dacryphilia, degradation, humiliation, edging, painplay/spanking (ayato); 18+; minors and ageless blogs do not interact
CHILDE
“What’s wrong, ptichka?” He leans down to lap the tears from your cheeks with a smile as condescending as it is kind. “I thought you were ready for this, but we’re only getting started.”
Is it really any wonder that this man has a breeding kink? He’s a family man, after all, and beneath all his bluster, there’s really nothing he wants more than a happy little family of his own to come home to. While he rationally knows that may be out of the picture for as long as he’s a Harbinger, he still can’t help but lose his mind a little at the sight of his come overflowing from your hole. Even better if he gets to fuck it back into you with his fingers to make sure you don’t lose a single drop, humming sweet praises all the while: you're being so good for me, babygirl. Gonna make you a mommy.
Speaking of fingers–Childe is good with his hands. When he really wants to tease you he’ll watch you struggle to drag his gloves off with nothing but your teeth, just so he can use those very hands to fuck into your mouth until you’re a drooling mess, begging for his fingers in your pussy instead. Maybe if he’s feeling nice, he’ll even reward you for your efforts.
He loooooves corrupting good girls. Girls who follow the rules, girls who put responsibility first, girls who take care of everyone else before themselves. He’ll tease you, give you just enough to get your hopes up before backing off and making you plead for his attention. Don’t worry; he won’t break you, at least not on purpose. He just wants to teach you how good it feels to allow yourself to let go and relish in all those dirty, greedy little impulses, the desires that only he can fulfill.
Childe likes it when his partners are vocal during sex, and he’s willing to put in the work to make that happen. He’s a bit of an exhibitionist in general–just another way of making sure there are no doubts in anyone’s minds who you belong to–but it doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of the Fatui headquarters or some isolated cabin in the mountains, he makes a game out of overstimulating you until you’re a broken, whimpering mess crying his name.
XIAO
“Please–” You can always tell when he’s about to break. He begs so sweetly, his stubborn scowl fading into something soft and needy. “Say it again. Tell me I’m good.”
It shouldn’t come as any kind of surprise that Xiao is a virgin. He’s so afraid of becoming close to others, yet more and more he finds his mind drifting to all those lewd, forbidden places when he’s around you. It’s obvious, too, the way he stares when you bend over to pick something up or the neckline of your shirt dips a little too low; but all the embarrassment and guilt in the world aren’t enough to make him hold back his voyeuristic impulses.
And oh, the moment you realize what’s going on and decide to indulge him, it’s over for Xiao. He’s obsessed with the way you tease him, your hands brushing against his thigh, or lightly steering him by the small of his back, all while you give him that same, trusting smile as always. This is just what friends do, isn’t it?
It takes a long time before he’s able to build up enough trust to let you touch him, but he loves watching you touch yourself. The way your hands, the same ones that have touched him so innocently so many times before, flick at your puffy clit; all those dirty sounds that fill the air; the blissed-out look on your pretty little face when you finally unravel. Witnessing you, being wanted by you–it’s already so much more than Xiao thinks he deserves.
The only think he loves more than feeling like your loyal guardian as you slumber is fucking you when you’re asleep. Sometimes because you’re having a bad dream; sometimes because he just can’t help himself, not when you’re lying so innocently beside him, filling his mind with impure thoughts.
Even at his brattiest, he always, always, always asks permission before coming. Inside of you, on you, even into his own hand. It’s as much about consent for him as it is getting confirmation from you that he’s earned this.
DILUC
“That’s right, precious,” he murmurs, his sonorous voice so unusually soft that you can’t help but shiver from words alone. “Just sit still and let me take care of you.”
Diluc loves giving oral, and he’s a messy eater, too. It’s like your sweet pussy is an aphrodisiac to him; he loses track of time, swirling his tongue around your tender bud and drinking in your taste until he’s left you overstimulated without even trying. He feels genuinely bad about it, too, every time he realizes just how greedy he’s been, how long he’s made you beg and cry for relief–but it’s not enough to keep him from forgetting himself again the next time he goes down on you.
He’s a very giving lover in general; really, he just wants to make you feel good. And, well, the beautiful sight of your tight little pussy creaming around his cock–that’s just a sweet side effect.
It takes a long time to get him to admit to his more taboo desires, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them. Most of all, he dreams of seeing you strung up; from the frame of his bed in the winery, or even more shamefully, from the rafters of his tavern (long after close, of course–no one else deserves to see something so beautiful). As much as he consciously respects your freedom and independence, there’s a dark part of him that wants to keep you safe and protected, somewhere only he can reach you.
He likes seeing his marks on your skin, too. Hickeys, mostly, but he’s not entirely above punishing you more thoroughly if he decides you’ve been a little too flirty with his patrons or too risky in your adventures. He apologizes every time his hand comes down on your ass, and yet he can’t hide how hard the sight of your soft and rippling skin makes him when it flushes and begins to bruise.
AYATO
“I’m sorry, doll, but you know the rules.” His lip trail gently across the marks left by his own hand only moments ago, reminding you that your master is just as forgiving as he is merciless. “Now, are you ready to be a good girl and do as you’re told?”
Do I even need to say that Ayato is a mean dom? He loves the thrill of the chase, learning exactly what makes his partner tick just so he can break them down. The worst part is how composed he remains through it all, like his twisted desire to see you squirm is just another of his odd little jokes.
His technique in bed is no less refined than his skill with a sword, either; he’s mastered the delicate art of pushing your limits without breaking them, testing your devotion to him with every slap and caress until you’re putty in his hands.
While Ayato demands absolute loyalty from his partners from the start, he doesn’t mind putting in the work to tame bratty subs; in fact, he likes it better that way. The more headstrong and stubborn you are, the easier it is for him to ensure that you’re all his by the time he’s finished molding you into the perfect toy.
He isn’t opposed to using pain as a punishment, but in most cases, he prefers withholding what he knows you want. He’ll edge you until you’re a sobbing wreck, begging for his cock; and as much as he knows he should hate to see you suffer like this, nothing makes him as hard as the sight of your pretty little face streaming with tears. Before he gives you your sweet release, he makes you beg for it, promising him you’ll be good from now on, that you’ve learned your place as his dumb little whore.
Ayato loves putting you in all kinds of degrading positions: cockwarming him in his office, touching yourself while he watches, humping the smooth leather of his shoes as you beg him to touch you properly. He likes knowing he’s the only one with the privilege of seeing you this way: flushed, humiliated, needy. His.
i’m gonna uhh post some snippets of fics i’ll never continue to write okay let’s go
“Eddie ran away for the first time when he was ten years old. He’d just been to the pharmacy and found out that all the medication he’d been taking--for years--was fake. He didn’t want to believe it. Greta Keene, the girl who’d told him, was a notorious liar. Any other time, he wouldn’t have believed her. And yet, somehow, he knew she was telling the truth. He could feel it in his gut. So he ran. He didn’t bother going home, just ran straight from the pharmacy into the woods.
His mother always told him not to play in the woods. They were dangerous, she told him. All sorts of hidden monsters. But Eddie went all the way to the middle of the woods and all he saw was a well. It was old and dirty, something his mother would never approve of him even getting near. But something about the well drew him in, so he slowly approached it. Eddie gripped the edge of the well, tilting up on his tiptoes to look inside.
In the stories his dad read to him when he was little, these wells were magic. They often didn’t even have water in them, much as this one didn’t, but it didn’t matter. The stories said that if you looked inside and spoke your heart’s desire, it would come true. That’s why they were called wishing wells.
Eddie took a deep breath and thought hard about what he wanted to say. It didn’t take long before it came to him and he closed his eyes before speaking. “I wish I could get far away from this place,” he whispered, then fell silent, waiting for...something. But nothing happened. No sudden gust of wind, no chiming of bells. He wasn’t sure why he thought it would. Eddie sighed. He guessed he’d have to go back to his house now, since his wish clearly didn’t work. He turned around and was immediately faced with a boy.
Eddie yelped and jumped back, hitting the well hard and falling backwards. For a moment, he was terrified he was going to die. But then the boy grabbed his hand and pulled him back up, tugging him into his chest. Eddie’s heart flew up out of his throat as his hands connected with the boy’s chest. “H-hi,” he breathed, blinking up at him.
“Hi!” the taller boy chirped back. “My name’s Richie. What’s yours?” Eddie was pretty sure he’d never seen this boy before in all the years he’d lived here. He had big blue eyes and curly black hair. His face was covered in freckles, and as he smiled down at Eddie, his teeth were bonded by neon green braces. He was tall too, wow. Eddie hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet. His ma said it was ‘cause he was fragile. He wasn’t sure how true that was, but looking into the bright eyes of the boy in front of him, all other thoughts of his ma were erased from his mind.
“D-do you live here?” Eddie got out, completely ignoring the other’s question. The boy—Richie—laughed, displaying those neon braces again.
“Yeah, I do. I’m homeschooled, though, so I don’t go to the school with the rest of the kids.” He looked a little sad about it, but the expression vanished as he continued. “I got this thing called dyslexia, so I can’t really read or write too good. Mags says the teachers were mean when I was in regular school, so she’s teachin’ me herself. I still don’t really got it, though. I dunno if I’m ever gonna.”
Eddie cocked his head, lips parted as he looked up at this boy. He didn’t know what dyslexia was, and he didn’t know Richie at all. But he blurted out, “I could teach you.” A voice in his head warned him to take it back, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to know more about this strange boy with the freckles and the neon braces.”
-Danny, Dakota, and the Wishing Well songfic
——————————————————————————
“We have an assignment for you.”
Edward scoffed. “I’ve told you a thousand times, I’m not taking any more—”
“He’s a nephilim.”
That piqued Edward’s interest. He slowly sat up. “A nephilim? And you trust me to watch him?” The Council nodded. Edward considered it. After so many years...would he even be a good enough guardian? Especially for a nephilim—he’d never been charged to guard one before. But maybe...just maybe...this would be what he needed. The last one, to prove to them that he was better off in retirement. “What…what’s the kid’s name?”
“Richard Tozier.”
-the end of my Eddie/Adrian guardian angel au
——————————————————————————
“Richie didn’t know what he expected when he died. He’d always been told that his soul would be alive forever, living on even after his body had passed. He didn’t know if he believed that, though. The concept of everyone living forever? It was almost too much to think about. He figured once he died, he wouldn’t wake up. It would just be blackness for eternity.
Richie was not expecting this.
The first thing he was aware of was music. There was music dancing through the air, lively music with lots of brass. It sounded like something he’d hear at home in Santa Cecilia. Richie thought he was back home, and quickly cracked open an eye.
From what he could see, his side was pressed into a pile of marigold petals. When he opened his mouth, he spat out more petals, wrinkling his nose in disgust. That felt weird.
———
“Señor Tozier...lo siento, pero...usted mueró. Sé no es fácil entender, pero—”
“¡No!” Richie stood up, running skeletal fingers through straw-like hair. “No, it can’t be! I can’t be dead, I need to tell Eddie I love him, I need to see Coco, I can’t have died!” He was pacing, aching with tears that couldn’t be shed. “It’s too early, I’m supposed to be at home! I can’t—” He cut himself off with a dry sob.
The woman stood up from her chair, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Señor, por favor, usted necesita respirar, ¿sí?”
Richie shook her hand off. “¿Respira? ¿Respira? ¡No tengo livianos, no puedo respirar!” He sounded frantic.”
-chap. 2 of beat of my heart, my coco reddie au
——————————————————————————
These could possibly be triggering to people with dermatillomania or who self-harm so take care of yourself! I’ll put it under a cut once I’m off mobile
He had a ring of white scars around his face, oddly shaped.
“Aren’t you hot?”
“No,” the boy said simply. His left hand twitched, almost imperceptibly.
——————
Stan quietly took a seat across from him. His hands kept moving—drumming his fingers on the table, pressing down on his leg, nails digging into his palm. At one point, he started to roll up his sleeve impatiently, but Bev placed a hand on his shoulder and he pushed it back down, sighing. She seemed pleased, and intertwined her fingers with his before continuing to chat with Richie and Bill. The whole interaction left Eddie even more confused. He hadn’t seen any sort of sign that they were in a relationship, and yet here they were, holding hands in public! It all seemed rather odd.
——————
“He just needs more support than most people, that’s all,” Richie said easily. Sensing that this wasn’t the answer that Eddie wanted, he added, “Look, I’d tell you, but it’s not my place to say. Ol’ Stanny Boy will spill when he’s ready.” Eddie still wasn’t satisfied, but he let it go. Besides, the sinking feeling in Eddie’s gut told him he already knew the answer.
——————
Stan sighed. “I have this...thing. It’s...well, it’s a form of OCD. I’ve had it for years now, since probably the summer of my sophomore year. I don’t know what brought it on, to be honest. I’ve wracked my brain and I can’t think of any valid reason why I’m...like this.” He took a deep breath. “It’s called dermatillomania. Basically, I pick my skin. A lot. I can’t help it; it’s like a compulsion. I guess that’s why it’s part of OCD. It’s mostly just my arms and my face. That’s what all these scars are,” he added, pointing at the ring of white splotches circling his face. “That was before I realized how bad it was. I did it without noticing the effects. By now it’s too late to get rid of them. They’re scars now, nothing I can do about it. It’s really bad, Mike. I can’t take a shower or be in front of the mirror for too long, I can’t wear t-shirts or tank tops or go shirtless in the summer. Long sleeves are just about the only thing that stops me, and even then, I have plenty of things on my forearms that I could pick too. If someone isn’t there with me to physically stop me, I could just stay there for an hour, at least, just finding any raised bump on my skin that I can dig at until it bleeds.” He grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
Mike shook his head. “Don’t apologize, Stan. I want you to talk about it; it’s good for you. As long as you’re okay with telling me, I want to hear it.”
Stan gave him a small smile. “Thank you,” he said quietly.
“Of course,” Mike responded, returning the shy smile.“Do you want to talk about it more?”
“I mean, if you’re sure I’m not grossing you out,” Stan said, rubbing his arm self-consciously.
“Stan, you could never gross me out, I swear.”
The reassurance seemed to give Stan a second wind. “Honestly? I don’t know what I’d do without Rich and Bev. I’d be so much worse off. I have no self control when it comes to picking. I have to have Richie in the bathroom with me when I shower, or brush my teeth, or wash my face, because if I’m exposed to my own skin I won’t be able to stop myself. Richie is my rock. As much as he gets on my nerves sometimes—he’s my rock. He’s always there to ground me and tell me to snap out of it, and it’s one of the only things I’ve never heard him joke about.” Stan paused for a second, staring into the fire as he weighed his next words. He sighed. “I just...sometimes I hate myself for it, you know? Like, how weak must I be if I can’t wear a t-shirt without wanting to rip open my skin? How pathetic am I if I need to have someone with me at all times in case—god forbid—I take my jacket off? I feel so helpless. I can’t control it. As much as I want to, I can’t. There are times when nobody’s around, and I’ll sit on a disgusting hotel bed and pick at my skin until my arms are bleeding and scabbing over and it looks like I’m diseased because all my skin is pink and raised, and I’ll hate myself for doing it because I’m telling myself to stop even as I keep picking and I can’t stop myself until one of them comes in and starts crying because oh shit, Stan fucked up again and I hate it I hate it I hate it—”
“Stan, Stan, listen to me.” Mike grabbed his face in his hands. “Look at me, okay? No matter what you think, you are not pathetic.”
"He hears a hauntingly familiar sound of space tearing behind him, dimensions warping as a supernatural presence is summoned into existence behind him. X doesn’t dare look back, acting nonchalant as he passes a few arena staff speaking in low conversations about the suspended match.
There are people around. X needs to be careful.
The massive glowing red Eye of Fate follows inches from his head as it stares down at him, searching for any signs of misdirection or lies."
Fic art for my X POV fic "to upend fate’s cards, the leading role must understand the supporting cast".
References. Would've tried a red background similar to the special PV but I'm not that good (or motivated) an artist. XP
what they look for in a partner ft. the cast of touchstarved
characters: ais, mhin, vere, kuras, & leander
word count: 2k
content warnings: some suggestive elements but nothing explicit, mentions of corruption kinks (ais), brat taming (kuras), and light exhibitionism (vere and leander), leander is a little emotionally manipulative
AIS.
Considering his relationships with MC and Vere, it's not exactly a secret that Ais has a thing for brats. He loves teasing, and wants a partner who can keep up with him, giving as much as they get. He's all about the thrill of the chase, learning exactly which buttons to press to get you flustered--so don't make it too easy on him.
Surprisingly, he's not usually the one to make the first move. He'll flirt, but struggles to take initiative when things start to feel too real for his comfort.
He finds people who can find a cool head in moments of crisis insanely attractive. Whether it's pulling him back when he's about to pick a stupid fight or constructing a perfect alibi on the spot when you find yourself in trouble, the contrast between your self-control and his impulsivity always gets him itching to push your limits even further.
Humans and Monsters alike, he's grown accustomed to the absolute devotion of his followers. So being around someone who isn't constantly bowing and scraping to him is a refreshing change of pace.
He still greatly values loyalty, and it's something that he's more than willing to return--he's a ride or die type of guy. What he's not interested in is empty flattery; telling it like it is is, in his eyes, a much more valuable kind of devotion than total obedience.
I definitely think he's got a bit of a corruption kink, and is drawn to people with a more innocent, even naive personality--easier to get them flustered that way. More importantly, though, he enjoys the interplay between his impulsivity and his partner's willingness to stick by their personal code of ethics, no matter how impractical. For all the teasing he does, he has a very deep and genuine admiration for people with strong moral principles and sense of self.
The only thing he loves more than drawing out your hedonistic side is knowing that he's the only one who can do it. It's a very specific, psychological kind of possessiveness, knowing that you want him enough to show him the greedy, impure side of yourself that you hide so carefully from the rest of the world.
On the other hand, narcs are a major turn off. It's one thing to tell him off for fucking up, and another entirely to get others involved. He fantasizes about a Bonnie and Clyde, us against the world type of love.
MHIN.
Another one who isn't particularly subtle about what it takes to get them heated. Mhin loves it when you can keep up with their acerbic personality. Even more than sharp tongues, they're drawn to people who are physically assertive enough to follow through on their threats.
Mhin is all bark and no bite, a fact that they're very much aware of. Deep down, they desperately want to feel safe and protected. It's not exactly that they're insecure; they don't have any hang ups about their own strength. But it's exhausting to keep their guard up all the time. So, they figure that their perfect match is their perfect equal--and 90% of their bluster is just that, a test so see who's willing to break past their emotional barriers and strong enough to keep up with them.
They're a switch, and definitely have a thing for size difference. One of their biggest fantasies is dominating a partner who's bigger than themself.
One of Mhin's most immediate turn-offs is people who look too clean and polished all the time. They're enamored by scarring and callouses--basically, the physical traces of a person's life, especially those associated with hard work. They're not particularly interested in fashion or flashy clothes, either; rather than being with someone who's always up on the latest styles, they admire those who know how to make things last, and who would rather underdress than overdress.
It's not hard to get them flustered. Put them in a good ol' fashioned kabedon, whisper simple praises in their ear, and they'll absolutely melt (not that they would ever admit that to you, of course). Mhin's affection is very subtle, blink and you'll miss it (they're big on acts of service, and usually quite sneaky about it), but they like partners who are more forward than themself, whether verbally or physically.
While they are a loving partner (once you break past those oh-so-strong emotional walls), Mhin isn't a super relationship-oriented person. They have goals of their own outside of romance, and would prefer to be with someone who feels the same way, supporting each other in the pursuit of their own, independent dreams.
VERE.
It's not exactly that Vere is a commitment-phobe. When he falls for someone, he falls fast and hard, and he's never been one to be secretive about his feelings. But he views relationships of all kinds--platonic, romantic, sexual, even antagonistic--with a kind of levity that can be offputting to many. Love, to him, is a game, and he has zero interest in dropping out of the race the moment he takes the lead, so to speak.
Even in a committed, monogamous relationship, Vere is a flirt and a bit of a player--with his partner and outsiders alike. In his eyes, it's not a sign of disloyalty, but rather, a way of keeping the spark alive. Possessiveness is an immediate dealbreaker for him (although he's not opposed to a good ol' jealousy fueled romp in the sheets--that's half the fun of teasing).
Vere tends to bottom more often than he tops, but he's attracted to switches far more than he is fully dominant types. He likes having dynamic interplay in a relationship, especially sexual, and wants to be with someone that isn't content with always falling back into the same old routines.
Physical attraction is very important to Vere, although he doesn't necessarily require that his partner is conventionally attractive. He's especially drawn to unique senses of style and physical traits--a particularly intense look in a person's eyes, a scar or blemish that gives their face an interesting character, even an interesting tilt to the way they hold themself. The only thing he loves more than standing out in a crowd on his own is hanging off the arm of someone who does the same, intentionally or not.
He likes to imagine himself and his partner as a power couple--the two most powerful personas in the room, the ones that everyone else wants to either fuck or become.
While he is very attracted to confidence, there's a bit of a feedback loop here, because he's also extremely good at psyching up his partner's self-image--stick with Vere long enough, and it's hard not to see yourself as someone powerful and desirable.
Massive tit guy. 'nuff said.
KURAS.
Kuras is also attracted to oddballs and quirky types, although unlike Vere, he's not super interested in physical appearance or their ability to stick out in a crowd. He's much more drawn to interesting personalities: people with unique tics, speech patterns, responses, and the like.
His favorite part of relationships (sexual, romantic, and otherwise) is gradually learning what makes the other person tick, so unless he gets the sense that there's something interesting lingering under the surface, it can be hard to get his attention. He needs to feel like there's some kind of puzzle to be solved, and a tricky one at that.
On the other hand, once his curiosity has been captured, he's an incredibly attentive partner--even if it's not entirely unlike the kind of attention an entomologist would give a bug under the microscope.
He's also drawn to outspoken, forthright personalities to counter his more polite and subdued persona. There's something he finds incredibly amusing about a person who speaks their mind even when they know it'll get them into trouble.
For that reason, Kuras is, much like Ais, attracted to bratty types. Unlike Ais, he expects them to learn the rules at some point down the line. While his form of discipline is a gentle, cool-headed one, he still views himself as more of a teacher than a playmate.
He very much prefers to feel in control of a given situation (even if that isn't immediately obvious in the way he presents himself). It can make him stubborn, to the extent that he'll reject the advances of a person he's interested in just because he wants to be the one to confess.
While this characteristic can make him come across as rather clinical in his approach, it gets its chance to shine when paired with his detail-oriented nature. From a grand confession of love to a simple weeknight dinner date, he's extremely methodical about preparing the perfect romantic atmosphere for his partner's tastes, from the locale and decor to the scent of his cologne.
While his partner needn't necessarily come across as kind at first impression, it is deeply important to Kuras that they have a good, generous heart. All the better if he gets to be the one to make them feel safe showing it to the world.
He likes 'em a little clingy and needy, too. Independence isn't necessarily a turn-off, but he needs to feel like all the effort he puts in is appreciated, or he'll move on to some other curiosity.
LEANDER.
We all know that this man loves to flirt, and in a much more grandiose, romantic sense of the word than Vere or Ais at that. In the same way that he gets a bit of a rush putting his strength to use in a fight, he likes using his charm and good looks to get a reaction out of people.
That's not to say his teasing is ingenuine; Leander comes on strong because he knows what he's looking for, from his partner's looks and the way they carry themself in a crowded room to the way they respond to his advances. He wants to be with someone who'll fall as fast and hard as he does, and as manipulative of a tactic as it may be, he's willing to put on the mask of a romantic until he finds the one that responds in kind.
Leander doesn't play games. Once he commits himself to a person, that's it. His absolute devotion is yours, and he expects that loyalty to be returned. Some of his biggest turn-offs are people who don't seem sure of what they want, or who won't express their feelings to him straightforwardly. He'll put up with some level of shyness, but too much beating around the bush and he starts to feel more like a therapist than a partner.
Total ass man. He has no compunctions about grabbing it in public to get a rise out of you--not to mention how utterly shameless he is behind closed doors.
He also really likes long hair. He has a lot of restless energy and tends to fidget when forced to stay still for long periods of time, so playing with your hair is one of his favorite ways to calm his mind. Braiding it and running his hands through it if it's straight, or spiraling your curls around his fingers--he doesn't mind either way, just wants it silky-soft and long enough to play with. (He also loooooves helping you wash and care for it.)
He's very physically affectionate in private, and even more so in public. He likes showing his partner off, and being shown off by them. To some this might make him come across as rather shallow (his favorite date nights involve going to bars or out dancing--anywhere that gives him the opportunity to turn some heads), but to him, it's a way of demonstrating that no matter how many may want him, he's decided you're the only one deserving of his attention.